The Belted Kingfisher
Price range: $49.99 through $64.99
A belted kingfisher stake measuring 12 inches long by 9.3 inches high overall, including its 2-inch spike, laser cut from 1/8-inch steel, that taps into a tree trunk, wooden fence or post with a few hammer strikes. Choose Raw Steel, which arrives bare and rusts naturally outdoors to a warm brown patina with no paint or upkeep, or Black Powder Coat, the same piece finished in black. Cut to order in our shop in Texas and shipped free anywhere in the US.
- 30-day returns
- Damaged or wrong item replaced or refunded
Gallery photographs show bare or weathered raw steel. A black-finish photograph is not supplied.
Read the full story ↓You hear it leaving before you ever see it.
Anyone who has spent time on a river knows the sound — a hard, dry rattle going away from you downstream, always just around the next bend. The bird flushes off a branch you never noticed it on, complains the whole way, and drops onto another perch a hundred yards on. Then it does it again when you catch up.
We had this one cut at rest, perched and facing the water, head down. Between dives is most of what a kingfisher's day actually consists of.
Two things about them are worth knowing. The first is that the female is the more colorful of the pair — she carries a rust-colored band across her belly that the male lacks, which is a reversal of the usual arrangement among our birds.
The second is where they raise their young. Not in a tree. The pair digs a tunnel straight back into an earthen bank above the water, several feet of it, using bill and feet, and the eggs are laid at the far end in the dark.
Also Perfect For
- Lake houses, beach houses, docks and pond edges
- Birthday gifts for a bird watcher or gardener
- Housewarming and new-home gifts
- Retirement gifts for someone with more time for the yard
Where It Looks Best
Set it near water if you have any — a pond edge, a dock post, a rail above a creek. Facing the water, not the house.
Details
- Design: The Belted Kingfisher, perched between dives
- Size: 12" long x 9.3" high, including the 2-inch spike; approx. 15oz
- Material: 1/8-inch steel
- Finish: Choose Raw Steel (arrives bare, rusts naturally outdoors) or Black Powder Coat
- Mounting: Built-in hammer-in spike for trees, fences and wooden posts
- Packaging: Ships flat in a 17" x 14" mailer
- Made in Texas: Laser cut from American steel in our family-owned shop
How to Set It
1. Pick a spot on a tree trunk, wooden fence or post — eye level from a window is best.
2. Hold the spike at a slight downward angle against the wood.
3. Tap the thick end of the spike with a hammer or mallet until it is firm.
No drilling, no screws, no other tools.
The Finish
Pick your finish from the Finish menu on this listing.
Raw Steel (Rusts Naturally): Your bird arrives as bare, raw steel — a clean steel gray. Outdoors, rain and dew turn it a warm rust brown, usually over the first few weeks, and the color keeps deepening with the weather. There is no paint or coating, so there is nothing to peel, fade or touch up. While the rust is forming, rust-colored runoff can mark pale stone, concrete or siding directly below it, so set it over wood, soil or mulch. Prefer the bare steel look? Keep it indoors or out of the rain.
Black Powder Coat: the same steel piece, powder coated in black. It arrives black rather than bare, does not develop the rust patina, and leaves no rust runoff, so it can go over pale stone, concrete or siding. Wipe it clean with a damp cloth. If it ever gets chipped, a dab of black exterior metal paint touches it up.
Processing & Shipping
Cut to order in our shop in Texas. Please allow 2–4 business days before your order ships. Orders of $99.99 or more ship free within the United States; under that, shipping is a flat $14.92. We ship within the United States only.
Returns
100% satisfaction guaranteed. If you are not happy with your bird for any reason, message us within 30 days of delivery and we will make it right with a replacement or a full refund.
About Our Photos
Some listing images are created or edited with AI-assisted tools to show the piece in an outdoor setting. The design and size you receive match this listing.
About Shadow Birds
Every Shadow Birds piece is cut from solid American steel and made in Texas. Browse the shop for more birds, Garden Folk, Seasonal & Holiday designs and Critters.
Questions? We're Glad to Help.
Send us a message anytime. Ordering several for a family, a memorial service, a garden club or a store? Just ask — we are happy to set up larger orders.